The Meridian Archives

L’Rochellé, Canarto
Canarto Royal Army

”May the Gods protect me…”

“Darein, oh divine Lord, help me in this battle. Look favourably upon this poor soul…”

That was Private Mariáno Costánera, a common soldier in the Canarto Royal Army.

Demoralized and unmotivated, the entire force at L’Rochellé wasn’t ready for a fight.

Yet, there they were. Their brothers.

“MARCH!”

Grudgingly, the soldiers began to march. The Meridian forces outnumbered them 1.5 to 1. And they were highly-trained and in high spirits. Canarto’s army knew that the entirety of this war was already lost.

How fragile is humanity…

The Meridians, after hitting Canarto’s forces with artillery and a barrage of infantry fire, began to charge. More so, the left flank of the Canartese army was dangerously exposed.

That is where they broke.

One of the soldiers, in desperation, chanted “retreat!” to his fellow men. A losing army, the Canartese heeded the call and ran for their lives, even as their commanders ordered them to stand and fight. It was pure instinct, however, that won the day. Royal forces quickly broke and scattered.

Then, the cavalry came. A mob of blades, prepared to slash their enemy in pieces. They and the infantry cut the retreat of some of the Canartese short, and their lives as well.

A white cloth flew high at the next target of the Meridians: L’Rochellé itself. The soldiers gathered at the town, and their commander attempted to fortify this place, but the soldiers mutinied, wishing an honourable surrender than sheer slaughter. Thus, escorted by his own soldiers, the Count of Trastamaré was taken prisoner, along with his entire force of 2,500.

500 Canartese and 88 Meridians had died that day. And so did any spirit of resistance for nearby forces in the region.

Traváletro D’Maié took pleasure on being the leader of the first victory in the conflict.